wfn.org | ACNS3373 Archbishop: pastoral letter to Forces Chaplains

["Anglican Communion News Service" <acnslist@anglicancommunion.org>]

ACNS 3373     |     LAMBETH PALACE     |     23 MARCH 2003

Archbishop: pastoral letter to Forces Chaplains

Lambeth Palace has released the text of a pastoral letter sent by the
Archbishop of Canterbury, Dr Rowan Williams, to UK military chaplains
serving in the Gulf as part of the current operations.

In his letter, written before the start of the military campaign, Dr
Williams said that they and those serving with them would be in his thoughts
and prayers and he paid tribute to their difficult role:

"You stand in a long and honourable tradition of Christians bearing witness
to the love of Christ in hard and dangerous places."

The text of the letter:

Amidst all the preparations for armed conflict possibly involving British
military personnel, I wanted, in the light of my own pastoral
responsibilities, to write to assure you and those under your care of my
thoughts and prayers in these difficult and testing times.

There has been a great deal of public discussion about the events now
unfolding; the decisions that have been made have been hard choices between
different kinds of risk and cost. But that is not the focus of this letter
and we pray for those who carry the great burden of responsibility for
making key judgements in these matters.

Those who are deployed with their units will, I am certain, acquit
themselves with courage and dedication. Few join the armed forces without
having thought deeply about the personal cost of service or of the
possibility of being put in harm's way and the Church has never shrunk from
sending its clergy to serve as chaplains wherever military people find
themselves. You stand in a long and honourable tradition of Christians
bearing witness to the love of Christ in hard and dangerous places.

You and I are both charged, in our different ways, with the pastoral care of
members of the armed forces and their families. As you exercise your
ministry with them, please be assured that prayers are being offered here
for you and those under your care. We pray for your swift and safe return.

Every blessing,

Rowan CANTUAR:

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Notes for editors:

The Archbishop met recently with the senior chaplains from the Navy, Army
and RAF and the Bishop to the Forces, the Rt Revd David Conner, and was
briefed about the work of chaplains in the Gulf.

___________________________________________________________________

For details about the Enthronement of the 104th Archbishop of Canterbury,
the Most Revd Rowan D Williams, visit http://www.anglicancommunion.org/

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